Row over taking photos lands woman in hospital, assailant on attempted murder charge

A row over the taking of photographs has resulted in a woman being brutally assaulted and hospitalised and her assailant being charged with attempted murder.

Magistrate Sunil Scarce, sitting at the Suddie Magistrate’s Court yesterday read a charge of attempted murder to Alex Benjamin, a labourer of Onderneeming Sand Pit, Essequibo Coast and later remanded him to prison.

The police’s case is that on April 28 at Back Street, Charity, Benjamin, 23, caused grievous bodily harm to Bonita Williams with intent to commit murder.

According to the police’s case, on the day in question, Benjamin was at a stall at Back Street, Charity consuming alcohol when Williams entered the stall and he took several photos of her without her permission.

Williams confronted him and a heated argument ensued, following which Benjamin attacked Williams with a beer bottle. Williams was taken to the Charity Hospital and later referred to the Georgetown Public Hospital and is still admitted as a patient there.

Benjamin, who was represented by Attorney Latchmie Dindyal was not required to plead to the indictable charge read to him. Dindyal requested reasonable bail for Benjamin citing as grounds that he is an expectant father who works in the interior.

Police Prosecutor Krishnadatt Ramana ob-jected to bail and he cited the seriousness of the offence and noted that Williams is still hospitalised.

Bail was refused by the magistrate and Benjamin was remanded to prison until June 5, when the case is scheduled to be called again.